Mental health accord would provide $11.6 million in Iowa

Legislators' deal would aid 26 counties but shut out six applicants.

1:21 AM,
Feb. 6, 2013

Written by

Tony Leys
| tleys@dmreg.com

Legislators have reached a bipartisan deal to give counties $11.6 million this fiscal year to continue providing mental health services as Iowa shifts away from a county-run system.

Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, and Rep. Dave Heaton, R-Mount Pleasant, said Tuesday that both parties had agreed to the amount. The compromise offers much less money than county officials wanted, but much more than state administrators and the governor had proposed.

The money would help counties pay current costs for providing services to people with mental health problems. Iowa is in the midst of shifting ...